Wow!
The Elms have dished up a mighty appealing morsel of musical delight with their self-titled 5 song EP. Musically, this album is what might be called "epic rock."
On the band's website, lead singer Owen Thomas describes epic rock like this:
"A band in the vein of rock n' roll staples from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to modern acts like Oasis, Pulp, or Superdrag is something we, as avid music listeners fully aware of mainstream and Christian circles, can't currently find in Christian music. We vow to bring that bold, epic sense of rock n' roll to Christian music, by making albums that contain only well-written, melodic, loud, instrumentally diverse music. The tunes will surely rock."
This disk pulls off this sound very well with the triumphant melodies ("Real Men Cry" and "Goodnight, Rose"), the expressive vocals and cool keyboard effects ("Lifeboat"), and the driving rock n' roll beat (all of the songs).
I am also impressed with the lyrical depth of the EP. A good example of Thomas' songwriting prowess is in "Lifeboat."
when i am scared, You are my father.
when i can't breathe, You are the air.
when i can't swim, You are a lifeboat.
when i'm tired and weary, You are there.
and my times get high, my times get low,
but You always let me in on all that You know.
i could give You time alone and then
You'd only come and ask me, "where have you been?"
when i can't move, You are my maker.
when i'm poor, You give me a hand.
when i can't swim, You are a lifeboat.
You carry me to dry land. when i can't see,
You are my maker, speaking words that keep me aware.
when i can't swim, You are a lifeboat.
when I'm tired and weary, You are there.
I highly recommend this EP, and will be waiting with baited breath to see if their full-length album will continue to reach music of epic proportions.
